Etymology : Middle English; partly from Old English tyrnan and turnian to turn, from Medieval Latin tornare, from Latin, to turn on a lathe, from tornus lathe, from Greek tornos; partly from Old French torner, tourner to turn, from Medieval Latin tornare; akin to Lat
Pronunciation : 't&rn
Function : verb
Date : before 12th century
1. operate, make an electrical device start functioning; make or become elated or euphoric (Slang); be dependent upon; open; address someone angrily; turn around. turn onv.
2. cause to operate by flipping a switch; "switch on the light"; "turn on the stereo" [syn: switch on] [ant: switch off ].
3. be contingent on; "the outcomes rides on the results of the electin"; "your grade will depends on your homework" [syn: depend on, devolve on, depend upon, ride on, hinge on , hinge upon].
4. produce suddenly or automatically;'turn on the charm"; "turn on the waterworks".
5. become hostile towards; "the dog suddenly turned on the mailman".
6. cause to be agitated, excited, or roused; "the speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks" [syn: agitate, rouse, charge, commove, excite, charge up ] [ant: calm].
7. stimulate sexually; "this movie usually arouses the male audience" [syn: arouse, sex, excite, wind up].
8. get high, stoned, or drugged; "he trips every weekend" [syn: trip, trip out, get off].
9. become hostile towards; "The dog suddenly turned on the mailman" produce suddenly or automatically; "Turn on the charm"; "turn on the waterworks".
10. 1. When you turn on a piece of equipment or a supply of something, you cause heat, sound, or water to be produced by adjusting the controls. I want to turn on the television She asked them why they hadn't turned the lights on. = switch on ¡Ù turn off.
11. If someone or something turns you on, they attract you and make you feel sexually excited. The body that turns men on doesn't have to be perfect. see also:
turn-on ¡Ù turn off.
12. If you say that someone turns on a particular way of behaving, you mean that they suddenly start behaving in that way, and you are often also suggesting that this is insincere. He could also turn on the style when the occasion demanded.
13. If someone turns on you, they attack you or speak angrily to you. Demonstrators turned on police, overturning vehicles and setting fire to them.
14. If something turns on a particular thing, its success or truth depends on that thing. The plot turns on whether Ilsa will choose her lover or her husband. = hinge on.